i figure its my turn to backtrack and make clear my ramblings.
our instructor uses the japanese as a common term. an identifier.
then proceeds to translate to english (which often doesn't make sense when done literally) and then demonstrate.
much like a swimming instructor who wants his students to do 'freestyle' (which also makes no sense really as an identifying word) he won't have to demonstrate the stroke and explain every motion each time they get in the pool. Simply say "freestyle".
does it matter what language these terms are in when ultimately they will have to be shortened and possibly make no identifying sense on their own?
i have nothing against english being used to clarify terms for english speakers. but why get rid of the original only to replace it with something similar but in another language?